In a major development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on October 4 announced that Shubman Gill will take over as India’s new ODI captain, marking the end of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy era.
Rohit, who led India to multiple ICC titles, is regarded as the second-most successful Indian captain after MS Dhoni. His removal has triggered widespread debate about the timing of the leadership change, with former cricketer Mohammad Kaif voicing strong criticism of the decision.
In a video shared on X, Kaif lauded Rohit’s contributions, saying the veteran opener gave “16 years to Indian cricket, but we couldn’t give him even one.”
“As captain, he won 15 out of 16 ICC events, losing only the 2023 final. The Champions Trophy 2025 was his last match, where he was the player of the match and led India to the title. Rohit also won the 2024 World Cup. He showed magnanimity by stepping aside to give chances to younger players, but soon after, his captaincy was taken away,” Kaif said.
Kaif further argued that the transition was premature, adding,
“The captain who won us two ICC trophies in eight months is now being replaced. Gill is young and talented and will be a good captain one day, but why rush? Right now, it was still Rohit’s time.”
The move comes months after Rohit announced his retirement from T20Is following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, and later from Test cricket during IPL 2025. His future in ODI cricket now appears uncertain, particularly regarding the 2027 World Cup.
Under Rohit’s captaincy, India enjoyed a dominant run across formats, including back-to-back ICC titles and consistent top rankings. Gill’s appointment signals a new era of youth leadership, but has left fans divided over whether the change was too abrupt.